Fourth South Rupununi Safari launched – more sponsorship needed

The stage is set for another South Rupununi Safari that will promote Guyana’s ecotourism. Participants in a 12-vehicle convoy will experience the beauty of the rolling savannahs and what they have to offer.

About 50 persons will set out on a six- day trip, moving through Regions Four, Eight, Nine and Ten and in the process touching 10 villages. The event takes place from November 24 to 29, 2016. The convoy leaves from Georgetown and ends at Achiwuib in Region Nine.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh at the launch at the GTA’s Boardroom, Sophia Exhibition Site, said more sponsorship is needed to help make the event successful. Haralsingh noted that it costs a family of four over $200,000 for the six days. When sponsorship is received that cost will decrease; hence more persons will be able to go on the trip, the GTA Director explained.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh, at the launch of the fourth annual South Rupununi Safari

“Fuel, food items, items that can be donated to the villages that we will be passing through and vehicles as well,” are some of the items that sponsors can assist with.

The river crossing during the Safari is supported by Mekdeci Mining Company (MCC).

The Safari is organised by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and GTA in collaboration with Rainforest Tours, Regions Eight and Nine Administrations, and the Ministries of Communities and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Coordinator of the Safari, Frank Singh said, this fourth edition is a good opportunity for families to bond and make new friends.

Singh explained that “this one here is to give drivers the know how to activate a 4×4 vehicle, due to the fact that when we visited the North Pakaraima (safari) before, a lot of persons didn’t know how to engage the vehicles and this is an opportunity for them to learn how to operate their vehicles.”

Singh explained that on the convoy there are usually business persons who would buy the villagers’ products and see how best their products can be marketed. The coordinator said that it is compulsory for the Safari members to donate something to each village that they pass through.

Singh pointed out that the sceneries are beautiful, and every time the travellers would see something different; “one of the things that they will be doing this time around is trying to drive up the Shea rock. We have tried before, but it did not happen, so we are going to do it this time.”

Coordinator of the South Rupununi Safari, Frank Singh at the launch of the fourth edition

Edward Luke King, a participant who is one of the persons that has been on all four Safaris thus far, encouraged families to come onboard. “We have had persons on the trip who met and got married, new friendships are formed and more persons get to see this beautiful country, Guyana.”

The South Rupununi Safari offers an ideal opportunity for persons to experience the outdoors, have fun and adventure, discover the picturesque beauty of miles of savannahs and explore little known places south of Guyana’s interior.

The South Rupununi Region has some of the most beautiful sceneries that travellers will come across; it takes the adventurous through many indigenous villages including the Wapishana village of Shea where travellers will get a glimpse of the Shea Rock which towers over the flat savannahs. From Shea, the sightseers will get a stunning view of the famed Bottle Mountain, the Shiriri Mountain and the Kanuku Mountain range.

By Gabreila Patram

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